Previously on Chicago Fire, Casey and Hallie got all randy after swapping memorabilia and had a dirty afternoon skate. This is how you know the Casey’s jersey is not game used because, take it from a girl who knows, there’s nothing sexy about the way hockey gear smells. Voight’s back on the job and on top of Antonio but only in a work way. Mills made everyone jealous with his rope and harness skills, got picked first in the game of Who Want to Severide’s Boyfriend, and was rewarded with some one-on-one gladiator style homoerotica. Severide meanwhile played dress uniform Ken, engaged in some witness tampering, and is all irritated that people are taking allegations of sexual assault seriously. The nerve! You want an asshat in charge who doesn’t mind sexual assault so much, try the Air Force.
We start with Severide doing his best witness tampering and intimidation once again. He is waiting for Tara in the parking lot outside a Walgreen’s, as you do when you’re an upstanding citizen, so they can talk about those allegations of sexual assault. He makes a snide comment about her promotion, she tells him to go away, and he yells some more about how they are going to file criminal charges and that he didn’t do anything to her. Let’s take a step back and imagine how terrifying this scene is if Severide actually assaulted this woman. He’s waiting for her which means he’s following her around, he starts screaming at her, while she’s just trying to mind her own business. Sure, we have a feeling she made the whole thing up but man, can we just take a second to imagine having to face the person who assaulted you when you’re just out buying tampons and Us Weekly?
In the land of consensual sex, Hallie is mostly nude and those of us with eyes thank you for it. She’s starting to get dressed but Casey pulls her back to bed and asks if they can just stay there all day. She’s all for it since we’ve seen her work what three and a half minutes total and he’s ready to have the truck pick him up on the way to any calls. Sure someone might burn to death but that’s no reason they shouldn’t give him some more time for a nice morning skate. Hallie coos and tells him that in twenty-four hours and one minute from now they’ll be back in the bed together. You, madame, have just tempted The Shonda, the goddess of suffering for happy couples. Don’t you watch Grey’s Anatomy and yell about all the medical shit that’s wrong like every other doctor I know?
Hallie drops Casey off at the station and they program their pants to self destruct at the end of their work days. Mills and Dawson witness their good-bye and Dawson says she’s happy for them. Mills doesn’t buy it because he’s got eyes and the way Dawson looks at Casey would make me worry if I were Mills. Mills grabs Dawson’s hand and they stroll down the sidewalk. He looks a bit like he should be her kid brother in his varsity style jacket and bag over his shoulder. He shows his age and awkwardness some more by flubbing asking her to move in and then doubling down by telling her he loves her. Before she can pick her jaw up off the floor he starts punishing himself like a house elf for how stupid he was an how badly that came out. Dawson agrees that it was terrible and we’re all happy when Mills gets called over to go play cornhole with Herrmann.
Dawson hurries to the ambulance because “OMG Shay, you will not believe what Mills just said!” But before they can put on their lesbian processing snuggies and crack a beer they are called out to a ripped from the headlines, then put on ice for a decade, porch collapse. Eammon Walker is exquisite in this episode and it starts here with his face registering a cascade of emotions from shock, to pain, to anguished helplessness, to defeat as the woman screams “you did nothing!” What would take me several sentences to describe he manages to portray with his face in the space of two seconds.
A woman named Valerie has a spike sticking through her shoulder and she looks like a cross between Heath Ledger in A Knight’s Tale and a staked extra from Buffy. They get her in the ambulance where she crashes before they reach the hospital. Hallie, who is working her one shift of the month, jumps into the back of the rig and she and Dawson manage to get Valerie’s heart going again. Not to be insensitive, but if I’m lying there surrounded by Hallie and Dawson playing doctor I would have no trouble getting my pulse rate up. As Hallie wheels the woman into trauma, Shay just stares and says “wow.” Oh, silly Shay, you haven’t seen anything yet.
Back at the station Mouch and Pouch are watching Japanese television, Herrmann is trying to find new and inventive ways to scare the crap out of kids. Cruz shows up with a bright red pair of man panties that were in with his laundry. They clown on the person who owns them and they get pinned to a board until someone claim them. For a house that just had a seminar on sexual harassment, this seems like it might not be the best idea. Anyway, remember when Callie took one for Meredith and claimed the panties off the bulletin board? Yeah, those were sexier.
Herrmann is in the garage when a woman walks in and asks him if they allow kids to take pictures with the trucks. Herrmann who has almost as many kids as home as the woman who lived in a shoe says “of course” and asks where the kids are. The woman get a bit nervous and says she’s asking for another time before she leaves.
You know how on The West Wing there thing was having people talk while they were walking down the halls? This show has all heart-to-hearts happening in the bathroom. I half expected Aria or Spencer to pop out in the middle of the Chief ripping Severide for confronting Tara in a parking lot. Severide bristles and accuses the Chief of being on Tara’s side. Severide, you moron, you know what Martha Stewart went to prison? It wasn’t insider trading, it was lying about it. Even if they don’t get you for sexual assault all this intimidation is illegal, too. The Chief tells him that if he contacts Tara or goes within 100 feet of her the Chief will take away Severide’s favorite toy, his squad.
On the way back from the hospital Shawson finish their processing session and Dawson realizes she loves Mills even if she’s not sure what to do about the Boden banged your mom problem. They park in the garage but before they can have a Coke and a smile they are called out again, this time to a guy who was struck by lightning because that’s one of the three things we haven’t seen on this show.
Herrmann and Boden are leaving after the shift and Herrmann asks what’s wrong with the Chief. The Chief waves him off and says it’s just a rough shift. Herrmann invites Boden to have dinner in the Burrow with the entire Weasley family and who can pass that up? Mills trots up and asks Boden to give him a few extra shifts because his Squad classes are expensive. After he bounds away, the Chief sees Severide and Shay getting ready to leave.
Severide tells Shay that CFD told him to back off and she tells him that’s stupid and that they should do a little digging into Tara’s background. She says it’s time they went on the offensive. I am getting sick of ragging on the show for this storyline but please, is there a worse way to encourage anyone who has been assaulted to consider coming forward than this story line? Come forward if you want people digging into your past, confronting you in your daily life in a way that puts your safety into question, and calling you a liar.
Mills is waiting on the waterfront when Dawson shows up with pretzels, declarations of love, and questions about how to UHaul. Bitch, please, don’t try to play dumb now when we all know you and Shay got the deluxe package a few months back.
Severide is keeping up the appearance of the creepiest creeper than ever did creep by meeting Antonio so they can discuss the case and how Severide is going to be facing criminal charges. Antonio tells Severide about another case in which Tara claimed that someone she worked with sexually assaulted her. The charges were dropped but it’s enough for Severide to go hunt the guy down. The guy used to be an executive at a fancy ad agency, but sadly he looks neither like Don Draper or Joan Holloway. He had a relationship with Tara, who was a graphic designer, but when they was a rumor about downsizing she claimed their relationship was not consensual and that he created a hostile work environment. She got a big settlement, he got fired and blacklisted, and had to sign a nondisclosure agreement so she’d drop the criminal charges. Severide asks for Pete Campbell’s help. Honestly, I think this guy’s creepy looking and was probably voted “Most Likely to be a Sex Offender” by his senior class.
Casey arrives at the neighborhood clinic where Hallie is working with lunch. He mentions that she always brought him lunch at the station and it’s the first time for me that his boy scout nature seemed sweet and not like he was trying too hard to be the teacher’s pet. She walks back into the clinic and shows him around. When she goes to check on something a bald guy with a dark goatee walks in, looks around and leaves. They go back outside to eat. They sit on the hood of her car and she says that when she was away at resident camp in South America she realized the things she actually liked about medicine and a few other things she wanted to reclaim for her life. You can almost see Shonda sitting in the tree above them as they eat, rubbing her hands together and cackling softly.
It’s dinner time and Ron can’t find Scabbers, Crookshanks looks awfully guilty in the corner, the twins are setting off fireworks, Ginny and Harry are snogging in the stairwell and Herrmann and the Chief make their way to the kitchen to wash the dishes and have a beer. Boden is worried that he’s losing Severide’s respect and Herrmann reminds Boden that “leaders lead from the front.” Boden mumbles something about how he knows he’s always saying bullshit like that but he never realized how annoying it is to hear until that moment.
Otis is standing mesmerized by the man panties. Mouch tells him it’s a safe place and that he can admit that they are his (in spite of the fact that you could fit about twelve Otises in those suckers). Otis says he’s sick of looking at them so he claims them. They are called out to another accident. This time it’s two cars, one of which is carrying a couple of co-workers who have been having some afternoon delight. The hurt woman is more concerned that her husband is going to find out than with her safety, the safety of her work buddy, or the dead guy in the other car. Nice, lady.
Severide is now scaling the summit of Mount Idiot and he is confronting Tara in the cafeteria and he’s brought a buddy, Pete Campbell. Again, take a moment to imagine this scene if she’s telling the truth and she’s confronted at work by two men who assaulted her. Anyway, Severide convinces her to drop the charges, resign her job and recant what she claims Pete Campbell did. Mostly, I am glad this storyline is done because sure Tara is a big fat liar who lied about not one, but two men sexually assaulting her. She’s a terrible person. But the irony of this show coming right after and being produced by the same company that does Law & Order: SVU is not lost on me. You don’t have to be Olivia Benson to know sexual assault is a real problem. Underreporting of sexual assault is a real problem. Perpetuating the idea that women lie about being sexually assaulted and playing up the ways that they might be smeared or bullied or stalked isn’t going to help the problem. So good riddance Tara and this crappy storyline.
Moving on to a much happier story. The lady is back and she has her kid. Her daughter is twelve and Herrmann and the rest of the guys make sure she gets pictures on the truck with all the people and her parents. Herrmann talks with the mom since it’s the Charlotte’s birthday he says maybe we can make this a little better than a few pictures. He goes up and asks the Chief to come out. Boden grumbles about his paperwork but comes anyway. He puts on a happy face and wishes the girl happy birthday and then the magic starts. She asks him if he remembers her. For a moment he has the “oh shit” face of a man who is scouring his memory for a sexual partner who looks like the girl. He says no and she tells him that twelve years ago she was left on the doorstep of the station and Herrmann told her that Boden was the one who found her.
As I said before, Eamonn Walker shines in these quiet moments. A lot of actors can cry, many can cry in a way that makes your heart seize and, if you are that sort, make your own eyes pour out tears. They do this in ways that are big and dramatic or small, quiet, and subtle. When Boden realizes that this is the girl he wondered about for twelve years there is a swirl of joy and relief before his face tenses as if by remaining entirely still his tears won’t well in his eyes or spill down his cheeks. Maybe, if he can just hold all the muscles tight they won’t betray the deluge of emotion rushing from his chest. It’s marvelous to watch.
This little girl, who always knew the truth about where she came from and how she came to live with her parents, is the catalyst for truth spreading through the fire house. Otis confronts Mouch with his undies that are a Japanese brand. Turns out Mouch has been watching Japanese TV, and studying Japanese because he’s gotten himself an internet girlfriend who sent him the man panties. Severide and the Chief have a nice moment about how the Chief was always looking out for him and never doubted Severide in the Tara situation for one second. Dawson tells Mills about his mom sleeping with Boden and Mills is pissed. He gets mad at Dawson for holding the secret from him because, yeah dillhole, it’s totally her fault Boden banged your mom. Before they can process their feelings and whether Dawson needs s second refund from UHaul they get called out to a fire at Hallie’s clinic.
Casey recognizes the address immediately and tries to get inside as fast as possible when he realizes that Hallie’s car is still there. They pull several people out and have to break into the med cage where Hallie trapped and lying unconscious on the floor. Casey and Severide finally get her out and Dawson and Casey work on her in the back of the rig while Shay drives. Casey is desperate and Dawson is pained by his pleading with Hallie to be all right. The entire house waits. Casey paces as if his motion is going to help Hallie. Everyone else fidgets and does everything but look at him squarely. They avoid looking at him so they may avoid thinking about what is happening in a trauma room down the hall and the implications for him and for all of them of the outcome.
Casey walks alone down a hallways until he reaches the doctor. The doctor reaches out and grabs Casey’s shoulder and Casey collapses, the black of his turnouts a stark contrast to the white of the doctor’s coat. Everyone watches from the doorway until Mills pushes through the crowd and walks to Casey. Mills envelopes Casey with a hug and Casey leans on Mills as the others weep as they see Mills holding Casey up. The camera blurs as if it too is watching the scene through tears. Maybe it’s the blurry shot but I swear I saw Calzona walk out another door and say, “we told you bastards, you don’t get happy on TV for long, they’ll cut you down.”
This was, I thought, one of the best episodes so far. What did you think?
Next week, Casey goes vigilante as he tries to strike back at the person who killed Hallie. Remember that creepy guy casing the clinic, he’ll be back and battling Casey on a train. All that’s missing is Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves.
Here are some of your #ShaycagoFire tweets from last night’s episode.
oh wow Mills wanting Dawson to move in already and dropping the I love you, I think you should get an honorary lesbian badge. #shaycagofire
– Even (@2Even) May 9, 2013
“My little dawson” sounds amazing coming from Shay’s mouth… #Shaycagofire
– Laura Guevara (@SilverTotem94) May 9, 2013
Check out Shay rippin those clothes off Like A BOSS! Girl you can rip my clothes off anytime! #ShaycagoFire
– skeeler (@krayzdreamr) May 9, 2013
Wait, I shouldn’t be laughing about that texting injury… Right? #ShaycagoFire
– NicS (@njnic23) May 9, 2013
This #fakerape story keeps getting worse.Seriously, Chicago Fire, this is a Fd up message you’re sending.#ShaycagoFire
– Uber Wanky (@UberWanky) May 9, 2013
Hailey seems to have a lot of free time on her hands…My brothers are only med students and they don’t have that kind of time #Shaycagofire
– Laura Guevara (@SilverTotem94) May 9, 2013
Those two looked really creepy…Shame on this show. #ShaycagoFire
– Uber Wanky (@UberWanky) May 9, 2013
Ambushing a woman with not one, but TWO, people accused of raping her. Wow. What a great way to resolve things #shaycagofire
– Andy (@aranthur) May 9, 2013
THINGS ARE GOING TOO WELL. SOMETHING’S ABOUT TO GO WRONG.#ChicagoFire #ShaycagoFire
– Valerie Anne (@PunkyStarshine) May 9, 2013
I wonder if Mouch and Ryder have been talking to the same person… #shaycagofire #gaysharks
– Andy (@aranthur) May 9, 2013
Please don’t kill Haley. My eyeballs really like her.#ChicagoFire #ShaycagoFire
– Valerie Anne (@PunkyStarshine) May 9, 2013
Again, not crying… my eyes are just sweating… #Shaycagofire
– Laura Guevara (@SilverTotem94) May 9, 2013
No, Mills, she can’t move in with you. She is in love with Shay. #ShaycagoFire
– Chen Drachman (@shokoshik) May 9, 2013
so Hallie works as an intern in the hospital & in a clinic and she has enough time for lunch & sexy times with Casey wow #shaycagofire
– Even (@2Even) May 9, 2013
what! Hallie no! I liked her. Now I feel awful about saying how much free time she had 🙁#shaycagofire
– Even (@2Even) May 9, 2013
